Up and coming distance freestyler Mykhailo Romanchuk of the Ukraine had the best swim of his career by over seven seconds today to win bronze in the final at the European Championships, touching in a time of 14:50.33. Romanchuk’s swim, which was a new Ukrainian record, broke his previous record of 14:57.82 set at the 2015 World Championships when he finished 8th in the prelims. He added nearly twelve seconds in the final, but still ended up 7th as a result of Sun Yangnot showing up for the final.

Romanchuk had a very solid prelim swim, qualifying 4th overall in 14:59.13, just off his best time. Unlike in Kazan, Romanchuk was able to take off considerable time morning to night, rather than vice versa. His ability to do so will be tested more so at the Olympics where a swim in the vicinity of 14:50-14:55 will be needed in the morning in order to qualify.

Here’s a comparative look at Romanchuk’s splits per 100 of his swim tonight and his swim in the prelims at Kazan.

2015 World Championships (Prelims)

2016 European Championship (Final)

57.86

56.94

1:57.83 (59.97)

1:56.05 (59.11)

2:57.84 (1:00.01)

2:55.22 (59.17)

3:57.65 (59.81)

3:54.72 (59.50)

4:57.87 (1:00.22)

4:54.43 (59.71)

5:57.97 (1:00.10)

5:54.09 (59.66)

6:58.29 (1:00.32)

6:53.91 (59.82)

7:58.53 (1:00.24)

7:53.79 (59.88)

8:58.98 (1:00.45)

8:53.59 (59.80)

9:59.38 (1:00.40)

9:53.16 (59.57)

10:59.10 (59.72)

10:52.76 (59.60)

11:59.07 (59.97)

11:52.57 (59.81)

12:59.14 (1:00.07)

12:52.64 (1:00.07)

13:59.56 (1:00.42)

13:52.80 (1:00.16)

14:57.82 (58.26)

14:50.33 (57.53)

Romanchuk was fairly consistent throughout both races, but was able to hold his 100’s under 1:00 much longer at the European Championships than he did at the World Championships. Romanchuk held all but two 100’s under 1:00 in London, whereas in Kazan he had nine over 1:00.

Winning the race was reigning World champion Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy, who slashed over five seconds off his own European record and swam the second fastest 1500 ever in 14:34.04 to win gold. His countryman Gabriele Dettiswam 1400 metres of the race with Romanchuk before pulling away on the final 100 to win silver in 14:48.75.

Romanchuk moves into 5th in the world rankings with that swim, behind only Paltrinieri, Detti, Mack Horton(AUS), and Jack McLoughlin (AUS).

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About James Sutherland

James formerly competed for the Laurentian Voyageurs in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in February of 2018, placing 11th at the OUA Championships in the 200 IM, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in May. He …